Looking for Advice---Is Christmas vacation a good time to visit Italy?<BR>Anyone have an opinion or advice?

Good luck, Misty! I have asked this question a few times and never get any answers - not sure why - perhaps no one ever visits at Christmas? My husband and I are thinking of going then this year - perhaps Assisi & Rome. Where were you thinking of?

Dear Misty;<BR>I have been to Florence and Venice at Thanksgiving time not X-Mas but close.It was cold but not unbearable;I had a great time and would highly recommend it.Be sure to see what might be closed during X-Mas that would be my only concern.<BR>Best of luck La Dolce Italy!<BR>Sherri

Can't help you on Italy but we have been to Germany, Switzerland and Austria for Christmas close to a dozen times. There is nothing like it. It is an amazing time of the year in those countries!!!!

We did Christmas in Rome and New Years in Venice and it was great. Only had one day when it was pretty cold and with the exception of a few restaurants in Venice almost everything was open. We went to Midnight Mass at "Santa Maria in Aracoeli" which has a famous Christmas celebration. Greccio is about 1-1/2 hours from Rome (toward Assisi) and it is the place where St. Francis built the first presepe or nativity scene. Piazza Navona has a Christmas Bazaar, mostly junky stuff but fun to walk around. It is a good idea to make reservations for dinner in advance on holidays since some places will be closed or very crowded on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We had dinner outside under the umbrellas in the rain in the Piazza Navona on Christmas Eve and all the places were packed with Americans & Brits. Hope this helps. P.S. If you are thinking of Venice be aware of Aqua Alta.

Thanks! Anyone else?

Hi Carin,<BR>Looks like we have some good responses today. We are still thinking about which cities to visit. I am not sure, yet, perhaps Venice, Florence, and Rome.<BR>I would think Christmas in either city would be JUST wonderful and beautiful.<BR>Thank you for your note. I hope you have a nice holiday in Rome and Assisi.

Hi Sherri,<BR>I had not really thought of cold weather that much. That's another thought to check holiday schedules of tourist sites. What was your most impressive memory of Florence and Venice?

Friends of ours went to Sicily during the Christmas holiday. They had a wonderful time. The weather was cool, but the people were warm! <BR><BR>Most everything was open most of the time - especially restaurants which were often filled with locals celebrating the holiday season with their families.

Hi Kathy,<BR>Now you have put visons of Germany, Switzerland and Austria for Christmas <BR>in my head. Actually, none of the above are too far from Itally, are they? Sounds like you have done this many times. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be. Were you on tour or visiting friends and relatives? I would think either would be quite an exciting experience. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Cody,<BR>Thanks for sharing. I like the idea of Christmas in one and New Year's in another. You gave me several good ideas of interesting things to see while there. It is good to know that most things are open. Hmmmm....tell me about the Aqua Alta of Venice. I am not familiar with that.

Hi,<BR>Acqua Alta is literally "high water" in Venice. Certain tide patterns during the winter months cause flooding in the topographically lowest parts of Venice. Piazza San Marco will flood. The Venetians, used to centuries of this, put wooden planking & scalfolding down, but wearing waterproof footwear is an absolute must.<BR><BR>Rome is pretty at Christmastime. St. Peter's Square will have an enormous Christmas tree & a nativity scene in which the figures are human-sized. Both are usually still on display well after the New Year.<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC

Hi Mari,<BR>Now that is a place I really have dreams of visiting, Sicily. I read a book, A House in Sicily by Daphne Phelps, when I first thought of visiting Italy. I loved al of her descriptions that just stepped right into Sicily. I am not sure I will get that far South on this trip. Perhaps another time...

Thanks, Buon. I suspected it had something to do with water but wasn't sure exactly what. That is interesting. Winter tide patterns and flooding in Venice is something that I did not know about. Thanks for the advice about waterproof footwear.<BR><BR>St. Peter's Square sounds like a must go in Rome. I am also quite interested in touring Ancient Rome sites, while there.<BR><BR>Thanks for sharing.

I've spent the last 2 New Years in Venice. It's cold, it's foggy, the water is up to your ankles pretty often, and I absolutely love it. Surprisingly, there are still crowds during the day even on the most miserable days - lots of people have day trips there planned that they can't cancel at the last minute. If you don't mind cold weather and water, Venice is a definite option. Other of my friends have spent Christmas in Rome and loved it - it's much warmer, and there are lots of beautiful church services and concerts to attend. Italy is a wonderful choice for the holidays - keep planning!

Hi. I was very interested to see this section. My question is: is Rome particularly expensive during the holidays? Any hints? Thanks so much.

Hi Misty;<BR>are you going solo; with a friend with a lover? If it's the later I can not imagine anything better then X-mas with my sweetie in Venice.Do you have time for the big 3 ? If so I would go to Florence next you will need at least3-4 days if you want to see Siena; and that's just scratching the surface. I remember eating one of the best meals of my life in Florence ; unfortunately I do not have the name of the restaurant because this sweet Italian man took myself and a friend after I bought a leather jacket in his store. Venice is just magical espiclly at night when the day trippers have thinned out.I did notice it was alot less crowded then in the spring or fall which is when I usually go.If you want hotel reccomendations email me; I have lots of info. on Italy; but it's not too early to start booking your hotels the best are booked up months in advace.<BR>La Dolce Italy.<BR>Sherri

Thanks, Misty & everyone else!

My ezine last December was all about Christmas in Italy and Italian traditions:<BR>http://www.italywithus.biz/ezine/122001/index.html<BR><BR>I also have a dream Christmas here which may be of interest:<BR>http://www.italywithus.biz/christmas/index.htm<BR>